Raised ground level

[dexta]

I believe this all down to the ground level being raised by about 2'. Am I right in thinking that the the trunk retains the water and rots, and that the roots can't breath.there are several more at the same site which will go the same way unless the ground level is reduced.

[H-A]

Turned your picture round, hope you don't mind.

 

I helped take down a large Beech that was on the edge of a landfill site.

 

The fill level way about 12" above original, this had killed the tree, made good fire wood though.

 

H-A

[MATTMOSS]

I believe this all down to the ground level being raised by about 2'. Am I right in thinking that the 1, the trunk retains the water and rots, 2, and that the roots can't breath.there are several more at the same site which will go the same way unless the ground level is reduced.

 

1, No- rot could be caused by the tree being stressed and more susceptible to any fungi- from the picture there is previous damage to the lower stem which is an entry point

2, yes- The fine roots are buried stopping gaseous exchange

 

and there will be a change in the water table and drainage patterns from altering soil levels -not to mention mechanical root damage.

M

[dexta]

Thanks for turning the picture round.

The rot was only up to ground level with some signs of it going further up the trunk, that's why I was thinking it was due to water retention

[treeseer]

Moisture and other factors weigh in, so cannot say that all will fall unless dirt is removed. Gotta dig down and look really. Attached beech had 19" of red clay on it for 17 years and...

Detective Dendro - The Case of the Wonderous Washboard.pdf